DUBLIN: The eyes of European football on Sunday turn to Dublin for the Euro 2020 qualifying draw with 12 nations handed the extra incentive of home advantage should they make it to the 24-team tournament in two years time for the first time.
Amsterdam, Baku, Bilbao, Bucharest, Budapest, Copenhagen, Dublin, Glasgow, London, Munich, Rome and Saint Petersburg are the 12 cities that will host matches across the continent to celebrate the 60th anniversary since the first European Championships.
The draw in the Irish capital (1100 GMT) will see Uefa’s 55 nations split into 10 groups with the top two in each section making up the first 20 teams to qualify.
However, a maximum of two of the hosts nations can be paired together in each group to give all 12 the chance of experiencing a home tournament with a guarantee of at least two home games in the group stages.
England stand to gain most from home advantage with both semifinals and the final, as well as three group games and a last 16 tie set to be played at Wembley.
The Three Lions have enjoyed arguably their best year since winning the World Cup on home soil in 1966 as Gareth Southgate’s side reached the semifinals of the World Cup in Russia and then beat Spain and Croatia to reach the inaugural finals of the Nations League next summer.
Southgate is well aware of the extra inspiration of playing in a major tournament at home as he was part of the England side that reached the semifinals at Euro ‘96.
“What the players are going to experience is close to what we experienced in 1996 and in ‘66. That’s incredible for everybody,” said the England manager.
The Wembley factor could be key to ending England’s half century without winning a major tournament with Southgate’s exciting young squad having re-energised a nation’s support.
“I think the most pleasing thing of the year has been the connection with the fans and being able to share brilliant experiences with them,” added Southgate after exacting some measure of revenge for defeat to Croatia in the World Cup semifinals in a thrilling Nations League group finale earlier this month.
“I can’t remember the new Wembley like that. We have exciting players that give them excitement.”
England, Switzerland, Portugal and the Netherlands are guaranteed to end up in a five-team group to free them up from qualifiers for the Nations League finals in June. — AFP
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